I've saved some thinking there must be something to do with them. But dang if I can come up with much. Since the wire is so stiff, I have used them to stick in the ground to hold up wood things I've made. I use to cut out and paint various critters, would drill a tiny hole in bottom, then insert one end of coat hanger and push into ground.

Karen

Give em to goodwill! Sorry we get so many of them from hubby's drycleaned shirts and cannot use in Florida's humidity or clothes rust! Just be careful i think they are weapons!

I twist two hangers together. And use floral tape and wrap that around it. A few times. I bend the ends up or down and around depends on what you want to hang on it. I have used little flowers and dragon flys and butterflys to decorate with and little leaves.

I found this site recently and have enjoyed seeing all the great ideas. I had to jump in on this one. You can make terrific plant markers by hanging tiny terra cotta pots from half a coat hanger. Cut the hanger just above the curve on one end , just below at the other end to create the post and hook for your marker. Bend the curved end to add a small (1/2") hook. Use wire and a washer (or a 1/2" snippet of wire from the remainder of the hanger to creatre a hanger for the pot (through the drainage hole). Decorate the pots before hanging. I did a set of herb markers painted with herb names and pictures, bought herb seeds and a small wooden wagon wheel to use as a garden bed and gave it as a shower gift. It was a success.

Fairy wings! Here are a couple of links:

Here is a link that might be useful: FAIRY WINGS

I would not donate them to Gooodwill.I don't know about the other stores,but the one in my town doesn't sell wire hangers.They throw them away.

I don't use them very often myself,because I've never found any good projects either. They rust really fast with the salt air and moisture here. They're not like they used to be,when I'd keep a couple in my car for emergencies. They're just not that strong anymore. I'll keep my eye on this thread for everyone's great ideas! Wings would be a great idea,but for me,I already bought several pair of those at yard sales for my granddaughters dress-up box. I like the plant hanger idea,too. Great ideas Sally and Tomboy:)

Wish I could take the credit for this one, but HD beat me to the punch...recently needed to expand our pasture for the minature donkeys, but before finished, we ran out of the commerical fence wire holders! He used his wire cutters to cut coat hangers into appropriate lengths (about 4" to 5") then used his needle nose pliers to bend one end of the short hanger piece, hook it to the fence, pull around the tee post, then, bend around the other side of the tee post!

It is supposed to be one of HD's "temporary" fixes, but history tells me "they will be there for a long time" Oh Well, it's in the woods so the squirrels won't care at all!

Not a garden junk idea, but when we were kids, we used to bend the hanger into a diamond shape, then stretch a leg of pantyhose over it. Hold onto the handle part and make a ball of tin foil. Bat the tin foil ball around with the pantyhose/coat hanger "raquet". HA! What memories!!

I believe the donation to Goodwill or other thrift stores was meant for them to use, not to sell, but that's just a guess.

Arlene

Another thought - don't throw them in the trash - recycle them. The price of metal is up right now. You might be surprised. Also, it will keep them out of a landfill.

Thanks for all the ideas!! Can't wait to try 'em!

I especially like the pot hangers. I need a way to mark some plants, too.

Thanks again!

Phyllis

Last year at church the craft group made Christmas
trees from hangers. I could not go, so don't know
how they did it, but I am sure if you google
'wire clothes hanger Christmas trees'
something will come up to show you.

This isn't a garden junk but, a wreath can be made from a coathanger, bent into a circular shape with "baggies" tied on. Being plastic, the wreath is lightweight. The plastic can be left clear and flowers glued on, or it can be spray painted any color you desire.

Instead of baggies, you can buy colored plastic tablecloths and either cut squares the size of baggies or cut strips to make a "rag wreath".

My brother bent one in some way to make a really simple and neat belt hanger for my step mom before! I have one that I covered in fabric and have small quilt folded and hanging on it in my bedroom. I have cut them apart to use the wire for anything I need wire for, like a hanger for a sign and I even used just the hook part to make an over the door holder in the house!

I love all the ideas! I have found that the hangers come in handy for a lot of things. I've been using them to hang gourds for painting. They do make nice hooks for hanging all kinds of stuff.

Thanks again!

Phyllis

My MIL also cuts and bends them into S hooks to hang her collection of windchimes from. But my grandmother did a bunch of yarn covered ones and we all fight over them. Your clothes don't slip off like they do on plastic hangers. My BIL even tried to snitch some last time he visited us. ha Here's a site that shows you how.

http://www.exploringwomanhood.com/homelife/ideas/pom-jan05.htm

~Anj

Anj,

What a cool idea. I can use some hangers like this! I'll make some for other folks, too.

Thanks!

Phyllis

Would the hangers be too stiff to use with the bottle bugs? They are extremely cute - were posted a couple months by kudkuzkween (sp?)I think. Do a search for "bottle bugs".

Bend the triangle into a circle...
- for garden use -- straighten out the hook part and stick it in the ground, then wrap a vine around it for topiary affect.

- for garden related use -- straighten the whole thing out (sorta, including the hook) and then make it into a circle over a circle -- picture an O on top of another O. Wrap and tie strands of herbs, like rosemary or lavander on first, since they are often fairly long stems and aromatic. Then add berries, cones, shells, pods, or dried flowers on top of it. You've just made yourself a fairly long lasting wreath.

- for crafting only -- unravel the hook part first, bend into the circle, using the naturally spiraling part to hook each end together from the other angle, then cut off the rest of the hook. You'll need 2-3 sheins of yarn, and, depending on which project you choose, you'll need other stuff for final touches, too.

Wrap the yarn around your hand 20 times, then cut it. Carefully, remove the yarn from your hand, keeping it the same length together. Cut the loop on one side, so you should now have 20 strands the same size. These will be used to tie up the next 20 times you wrap the same amount of yarn around your hand (tying them in the middle), as well as tying them onto the rounded hanger.

Choices in designs are unlimited, but my first ones consisted of 20 green ones, then one red one, then another 20 green, one red, etc. until there simply was no more room on the hanger. Since it was then a Christmas wreath, it did require a Christmas bow, too.

My second one were 10 white ones, then 10 red ones, then back to 10 whites, until the hanger was 3/4rds the way full. The rest was dark blue, and then I pasted on the 13 white felted five-pointed stars, for an American flag themed one. (Warning -- my red yarn turned orange after hanging against a window for half a year. LOL)

Up to you to get your creative juices going for other themes. ;)

Thanks to all, for the wire hanger ideas.

I use them to hang gourd birdhouses -- drill a hole on each side of the gourd, at least an inch from the top. I cut off the lower straight length of the hanger. Use needlenose pliers to make a curl at one end, poke it through the gourd, and cut off any extra length, allowing enough to make another curl. Then I tie the ends of a leather shoelace to each. The gourd hangs securely and straight, if you use good judgement where to drill the holes.

Also I bend hanger pieces into long U shapes and use them to hold soaker hoses in place along the flower bed.

loneweever

when my son was younger (30+ years ago) it was the craze at the time to straighten out hangers and then bend them into your name and hang them on your bedroom door or wall....sorta like this is my room keep out ..... could do the same thing for flower beds

Another idea:
dcarch

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/junk/msg0719483327819.html?23